Study in Poland from Pakistan: Costs, Scholarships and Student Visa (2026)

Why do Pakistani students choose Poland?

Poland sits inside the European Union and the Schengen area, so a degree from a Polish university carries weight across Europe and your residence card lets you travel to other Schengen countries for short trips. The bigger draw for most families from Pakistan is the price. Tuition and living costs together often come in lower than the United Kingdom, Australia, or even Germany once you count rent and food.

The country has been adding more English-taught programmes every year, especially in computer science, business, engineering, and medicine. Cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, and Lublin all host large student populations, so you will not feel isolated as a newcomer. Polish universities such as the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, and Warsaw University of Technology appear in respected global rankings, which helps when you apply for jobs or further study later.

There is also a practical angle. Poland has a growing economy and a real shortage of skilled workers in IT, engineering, and healthcare. That means part-time work during study and graduate work after it are both realistic, not just theory on paper.

How much does it cost to study in Poland?

Studying in Poland costs most self-funded Pakistani students somewhere between EUR 7,000 and EUR 14,000 for a full year once tuition and living are added together. The exact figure depends on your course and your city.

Tuition fees

English-taught bachelor degrees usually run from about EUR 1,500 to EUR 5,000 a year. Master degrees sit a little higher, roughly EUR 2,000 to EUR 6,000 a year. Medicine is the clear exception. An English-taught MBBS or medical programme can cost EUR 10,000 to EUR 14,000 a year in tuition alone, so plan for that if medicine is your goal. Business, IT, and engineering degrees tend to fall in the middle of the range.

Living costs

Budget around EUR 400 to EUR 700 a month for rent, food, transport, and phone. Smaller cities such as Lublin, Bialystok, Katowice, and Rzeszow are the kindest on your wallet, often closer to the EUR 400 to EUR 550 mark. Warsaw and Krakow are the most expensive, so a student there should plan for the upper end. A student dormitory is far cheaper than a private flat, and sharing an apartment with one or two other students brings the rent down further.

What scholarships can Pakistani students get?

Yes, funded options exist, though they are competitive and you should still keep a self-finance plan ready as a backup. You can read more about that balance in our guide on choosing the right destination.

NAWA scholarships

NAWA is the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, and it runs the main government scholarship programmes. The Stefan Banach programme funds master level study for students from a set list of partner countries and covers a monthly stipend of around PLN 2,500, a tuition waiver at public universities, a Polish language preparatory course, and a travel allowance. The Lukasiewicz programme supports bachelor and long-cycle study in engineering, medical, and life science fields for students from developing countries. Eligibility lists change from year to year, so check the current NAWA country list before you build your plan around it.

University and EU scholarships

Many Polish universities offer their own merit discounts, early-payment discounts, and partial waivers for strong applicants. Some English-taught master programmes also fall under Erasmus Mundus joint degrees, which are fully funded and worth a separate application if your field matches. Treat scholarships as a bonus rather than the whole plan, because most Pakistani students in Poland are self-funded and still manage comfortably.

What are the admission requirements and intakes?

The core documents are simple. For a bachelor degree you need your FSc or equivalent certificate. For a master degree you need your bachelor transcript and degree. Most English-taught programmes ask for proof of English, usually IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 or an equivalent, although some universities accept a medium-of-instruction letter or run their own English test. You will also write a short motivation letter and supply a passport copy and photos.

Poland has two main intakes. The October intake, sometimes called the winter semester, is the larger one and opens applications roughly from spring through summer. The February or March intake, the summer semester, is smaller and not every programme offers it. Aim to have your offer letter in hand at least two months before you plan to travel so there is time for the visa.

How do you apply for a Poland student visa from Pakistan?

Pakistani students need a national type D visa to study in Poland for longer than 90 days. You apply at the Embassy of Poland in Islamabad, and the process starts online.

Step by step

First, accept your university offer and pay any required deposit. Second, register and book your appointment through the e-konsulat portal, because the embassy does not accept walk-ins. Third, gather your documents: a valid passport, the visa application form, recent photos, your official acceptance letter, proof of paid tuition or the first instalment, health insurance valid in Poland, and proof of funds. Fourth, attend your appointment in Islamabad, give biometrics, and pay the visa fee, which is around EUR 80. Fifth, wait for processing, which usually takes about 15 to 30 working days, so apply six to eight weeks before your course starts.

Money in the bank

You must show that you can cover tuition and living costs. As a rough guide, plan to evidence accessible funds of at least several thousand zloty on top of your paid tuition, often documented as around PLN 8,000 or more plus the year’s living costs. Bank statements should look stable rather than freshly topped up, so keep your money in place for a few months before you apply. If a visa rejection worries you, our article on avoiding common visa mistakes is worth a read.

After you arrive

The type D visa gets you into Poland, but for a full degree you then apply for a temporary residence permit, known as the Karta Pobytu, at the local voivodeship office. Start that application soon after you arrive, because appointments can take time and the card is what keeps you legal for the rest of your studies.

Can you work in Poland while studying?

Yes. Students holding a national visa with a student annotation or a residence permit for study can work in Poland without a separate work permit. That is a real advantage over some other countries that cap student hours tightly. Common student jobs include hospitality, retail, customer support, warehouse roles, and, for those with the right skills, paid internships in IT and engineering.

Be realistic, though. Part-time work helps with rent, food, and pocket money, but it will not pay your full tuition, especially in the first semester while you settle in and improve your Polish. Treat work income as support, not as your funding plan. If earning while studying is central to your decision, compare the rules in our overview of study destinations and work rights.

What can you do after you graduate?

After finishing your degree you can apply to stay in Poland to look for work or to start a business through a temporary residence permit for job seekers or graduates. Poland needs skilled people in technology, engineering, finance, and healthcare, so graduates with in-demand skills and some Polish language often find roles. Because Poland is in the EU, strong graduates also use it as a base to apply for jobs or the EU Blue Card elsewhere in Europe. Students who want a clearer permanent residence path sometimes compare Poland with Canada or Australia, which are built more directly around skilled migration.